Air purifying ventilator for toilet bowls



May 14, 1935. M. o. TEETOR 2,001,593

AIR PURIFYING VENTILATOR FOR TOILET BOWLS Filed May 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 14, 1935. M. o. TEETOR 2,001,593

' AIR PURIFYING VENTILATOR FOR TOILET BOWLS Filed May 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 14, l935 UNITED STATES;

PATENT- OFFICE AIR PURIFYING VENTILATOR FOB- TOILET BOWLS Macy 0. Teeter, Newcastle, Ind. Application May 28, 1934, Serial No. 727,967

' which is simple in construction, is inexpensive to manufacture, is easy to install, is highly eificient in operation, and which operates with substantially uniform ventilating and purifying efliciency for practically the life-of the structure.

Another object is to providev an improved'air purifying ventilator embodying ozonizing means for treating the air withdrawn from the toilet bowl.

A further object is to .provide a unitary structure of the foregoing character which is of compact form and neat in appearance; which is adapted for ready application to a toilet bowl; and which includes but few parts, all of which are readily and easily accessible and detachable for inspection, repair and replacement purposes.

A more specific object is to provide a ventilator having a housing rigidly secured to the toilet bowl, the housing being formed of a plurality of separable sections, one of which communicates with the interior of the toilet bowl and contains ozonizing means and another of which contains suction means and serves as a. support for the ozonizing and suction means whereby the latter section and ozonizing and suction means may be separated as a unit without disturbing the connection between the housing and toilet bowl.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawings wherein, p

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a standard toilet bowl and my improved deodorizing unit attached v thereto;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken through the lower portion of the unit as on the line 2--2 of Fig. 5; 1

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the deodorizing unit attached to the rear portion of the bowl and showing the positioning of the suction nozzle with respect to the bowl, part of the nozzle being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line H of Fig. 2 illustrating the manner of attachment of the support to the lower section of the housing;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the deodorizing unit with the operating mechanism there in shown in elevation, the same being taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

, Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing the mercury switch and the, actuator therefor; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit.

' In the drawings, I have shown my invention applied to a toilet bowl l0 having a seat ll hingedly connected thereto at the rear by a pintle l2. The pintle I2 is provided with supporting posts ll that pass through suitable openings in the upper rear wall of the bowl and are secured thereto by nuts l5. While I have shown a particular form of bowl and seat structure, it will be understood that my invention is not limited thereto and it has utility in connection with various forms of structures of this general type.

The ventilator, or deodorizer, takes the form of a self -contained unit that may be readily and easily attached to the toilet bowl Ill without the use of separatefastening elements and without modifying or in any way impairing the toilet structure. Specifically, the ventilator or deodorizer shown in the drawings (Figs. 1 and 3) includes a, housing I 6 having an integral bracket arm i'l extending laterally and rearwardly therefrom to overlie the rear portion of the bowl ID that carries the pintle posts M. The arm I! is provided with openings i8 through which the pintle posts It pass so that the ventilating and deodorizing unit is secured in place solely by the toilet seat mounting.

The housing 16 of the deodorizing, unit is formed of upper and lower sections l9 and 20 that are detachably secured together (Figs. 4 and 5) in a manner that will be described hereinafter. The lower housing section 2D is provided with circumferentially spaced posts or bosses 2i formed integrally with the upper part thereof. These posts are provided with openings 22 that extend entirely through the lower section 20 and posts 2|. Long threaded bolts 23 are passed through the openings 22 and screw threaded into openings 24 in an inwardly extending flange 25 at the lower end of the upper housing section IS. The posts 2| of the lower section define circumferential openings 26 which are covered by a screen 21 securely retained within grooves 28 and 29 provided in the upper and lower sections, respectively, of the housing.

The upper section IQ of the housing has a laterally-extending nozzle 30 integral with the top portion thereof and provided with a passageway 3| communicating with the interior of the housing and the toilet bowl In by means of a chambered passageway 3i. The nozzle 30 is genfines a chamber 34 in thetop of the housing for the entrapment of gases withdrawn through the nozzle 30 from the toilet bowl I. The inner I. end of the nozzle passage 3| leads directly into the chamber 34. The partition wall 33 has a central opening surrounded by a raised rounded bead 35, thus providing a communication between the chamber 34 and the lower interior portion of the housing 15. The opening 35 is of a size adapted to restrict the flow of the trapped gases from chamber 34 directly downwardly into the lower portion of the housing l6 where it is treated by ozonizing means to be described. The trap chamber 34 and raised bead 35 additionally serve to prevent any water that may be drawn in through the nozzle 30 from finding its way downwardly through the interior of the housing where it may come into contact with the operating elements therein.

An ozonizer 31, which may take any suitable form, is mounted within the upper housing section 18 directly beneath the' opening 35 leading from the trap chamber 34. The ozonizeris supported, preferably, in the following manner; An

' a'horizontally-disposed circular disk 49 attached intermediate supporting member 38 of disk-like form is secured to the lower housing section 28 by threaded bolts 39 (Fig. 4). The support member 38 is provided with openings 40 through which the threaded bolts 23 are adapted to pass for securement of the latter to the upper housing section IS. A suitable ring-shaped gasket 4| is interposed between the upper housing section 19 and the member 38, the central portion of the member 38 being provided with an opening 42 providing communicationbetween the two housing sections [8 and 28. The support member 38 is provided with upstanding posts 43 to which a transformer 44 is securely fastened by means of bolts 45. The ozonizer 31 is mounted on the top of the transformer 44, being secured thereto by bolts 45 secured to webs or plates on the top of the transformer (Fig. 5).

The bottom portion of the lower housing section 28 has an electric motor 41 mounted therein. This motor drives a suction fan 48, preferably, of the Sirocco type. The fan 48 is provided with to the motor shaft 58 by a set screw 5|. Radially disposed on the disk 49 and extending beyond the edge thereof are a plurality of upstanding fan vanes 52 that, in the operation of the fan, operate to create a suction and withdraw the gases from the toilet bowl l8 through the housing nozzle 38, as will be well understood from the drawings and the foregoing description. The vanes 52 are positioned on the fan disk 49 slightly and radially outward of 'a depending annular flange 53 around the periphery of the opening 42 in the support member 38.

The electrical circuit for operation of the motor 41 and ozonizer 31 is controlled by a mercury switch 54 mounted in the bottom portion of the lower housing section 28. The switch 54 is mounted on one end of a support member 55 that is pivotally carried near its other end by the wall of the housing'section 25. In this manner the switch support 55, due to the weight of the switch 54, tends to assume a podtion in which the, switch 54 is opened.

The switch 54 is, preferably, moved to its circuit-closing position as follows: The upper hous- I ing section 13 is provided with a longitudinal bore 51 in which is mounted a plunger 58. The upper end of the plunger 53 is provided with a laterally extending and rubber-covered arm 53 that projects into a recess or depression 58 in the upper surface of the nozzle 38 whereby turning movement of the plunger 58 is prevented. As will be seen from Figs. 1 to 5, the plunger arm 53projects beneath and is engaged by the toilet seat II in such a way that movement ofthe seat ll down upon the bowl depresses the plunger 58. The lower end of the plunger 58 terminates short of the lower end of the housing bore 51, and a reduced diameter rod 58 is secured to the lower end of the plunger. The rod 88 projects downwardly into the lower housing section 28, where its lower end seats in a notch or groove 52 in the switch support 55 whereby depression of the plunger 58 .rocks the support 55 to close the switch 54. A

face of which is a tubular electrode 55 that is grounded as at 56. An electrode 51 is mounted on the inner face of the tube and this electrode is connected to one of the secondary terminals 58 of the transformer 44. The other secondary terminal 59 is grounded at 18, while the primary 11 of the transformer is connected in circuit from the source of current supply 12 with one of the terminals 13 of the motor 41. The memory switch 54 and the other terminal 14 of the motor are connected with the returning wire 15 of the circuit. I v I The operation and advantages of my invention will be obvious from the foregoing description. Upon the depression of the toilet seat II, the plunger 58 is moved downwardly against the tension of the spring 53 to rock the mercury switch support 55 thereby closing the mercury switch 54 and the electrical circuit operating the ozonizer 31 and motor 41. The motor rotates the fan 48 and the foul gases are withdrawn from the bowl 10 through the nozzle 38 into the housing chamber 34, down through the opening 35, through and around the ozonizer 31, and thence through the opening 42 into the lower housing section from which they are expelled through the screened openings 25 into the room atmosphere. In this manner obnoxious gases from the bowl are ozonized and are returned to the room in which the bowl I is located in a deodorized and purified condition.

It will be manifest from the foregoing description that my invention is admirably adapted to perform the objects first, stated therein. The structure is simple, it is cheap to manufacture, it is attractive and compact in design, it is efiicient in operation, and the parts are subjected to a minimum of wear. The ozonizer 31 and transformer 44, while being located within the upper housing section l9, are carried by the lower housing section in such a way that they may be removed as a unit with the lower section, motor 41 and fan '42. This provides an arrangement wherein the parts may be readily and easily inspected, assembled and disassembled, and repaired and replaced.

It will be understood that while only one form 20 tegral therewith and positioned adjacent the top .of and in communication with the interior of said bowl, said housing extending downwardly from its intake portion and having an exhaust opening extending around the circumference thereof intermediate its ends for permitting communication with the outside atmosphere, and means within said housing for withdrawing air from said bowl and feeding it through said exhaust opening in a purified state.

7 2. In a ventilator unit for a toilet bowl, a housing, an arm on said housing extending horizontally thereof and secured to the rear portion of said toilet bowl, said housing having an intake nozzle in communication with the bowl, electrically controlled suction and purifying means in said housing, a switch for cutting in and out said suction and purifying means, and a plunger projecting through the housing and intake nozzle and actuated by a bowl-mounted toilet seat for operating said ventilator.

3. In a structure of the class described, a housing and a fastening arm therefor, a separate intake portion on said housing interposed between the toilet seatand bowl, an ozonizer and suction device within said housing, means for operating said ozonizer and suction device, and an actuator mounted within said housing and projecting from the top thereof for operation by the toilet seat for cutting in (1 out saidozonizer and suction device operating means. A

4. A toilet ventilator unit comprising a housing and an arm therefor, said arm being secured to the rear portion of a toilet bowl and positioning said housing laterally and forwardly from said rear portion with the intake portion of said housing interposed between the s eat and bowl and at one side thereof, said housing supporting therewithin an ozonizer and suction device, and means operated by the toilet seatdor actuating said ozonizer and suction device for withdrawing obnoxious gases from the bowl and passing them downwardly into and through said ozonizerand through said housing and expelling them to the outside atmosphere in a purified form.

5. In a ventilator attachment for toilet bowls, a housing positioned vertically and laterally of said bowl, an ozonizer and suction means in electrical circuit'within said housing, a switch for opening and closing said circuit, a vertically mounted plunger within said housing and operated by a toilet seat for closing the circuit to operate said ozonizer and suction device.

6. A structure of the class described, comprising a housing formed of a plurality of separable sections forming separate compartments, an ozonizer within one of said compartments, suction fan means and switch meanswithin said housing supported within the other of said compartments, and a plunger within said housing for actuating said switch to operate said ozonizer and suction device.

7. A ventilator attachment for ya toilet bowl comprising-a housing and an arm form'ed'integrally therewith for attachment to the toilet bowl, a separate intake portion for said .housing interposed between the toilet seat and the top of the bowl and in communication with the bowl interior, an ozonizer, suction fan means, and a mercury switch mounted within said'housing, a vertically mounted plunger within said housing in engagement with said switch andprojecting from said housing for contact with the underside of the toilet seat, the movement of said seat toward the bowl effecting movement of said plunger to actuate said switch'to open and close the circuit to operate the ozonizer and fan means.

8. In a structure of the class described, a housing formed of a plurality of detachable sections, an ozonizer within one of said sections, suction means within another of said sections, a nozzle on said one section communicating with the interior of said housing and the toilet bowl, a switch in said other section and in circuit with said ozonizer and suction means, a plunger supported by said one section and extending into said other section to actuate said switch for op-,

crating said ozonizer and fan means, said plunger also projecting beyond said nozzle for depressible engagement. 7

9. In a structure of the class described, a housing having a suction nozzle adapted to be fixedly attached to and communicate with the interior of the toiletbowl, an upper section formingan upper compartment, a detachable lower section forming a lower compartment, air purifying means supported by said lower section and disposed in said upper compartment, a suction fan and electric motor and motor switch in said lower compartment, and means adapted to be actuated by the ,toilet seat for opening and closing said switch.

10. In structure of the class described, a housing having an upper section forming an upper compartment, a lower section forming a lower compartment, an intermediate section, air purifying means carried by said intermediate section and disposed within said upper compartment, a suction fan carried within said lower compartment, means detachably securing together said upper and lower sections with said a lower housing section forming a lower compartment, air purifying means. in one of said compartments, suction means in the other of said compartment, means for actuating said suction means and so positioned that said suction means is positioned between it and said air purifying means, said lower section having air discharge openings located laterally of and adjacent said.

suction means.

12. In a ventilator attachment for toilet bowls, a housing adapted to be mounted vertically and having a nozzle portion at the top thereof adapted to be secured to the toilet bowl, said housing including an upper section forming an upper compartrnent, a lower section detachably connected to said upper section, and forming a lower compartment, said lower section having a lateral passage therein adjacent said upper section, and screen means secured by said upper and lower sections and covering said passage.

13. In a ventilator attachment for toilet bowls, a housing adapted to be mounted in vertical position and having a nozzle portion at its top adapted to be attached to a toilet bowl. said housing including an upper shell-like section having an open bottom, a lower shell-like section, having an open top and a closed bottom, spaced upstanding members around the top edge of said lower section adapted for connection to the lower edge of said upper section and providing a plurality of intermediate lateral openings, means for securing said upper and lower shell-like sections together, a screen covering said openings and interlockingly engaged with said upper and lower sections.

14. In structure of the class described, a housing adapted to be mounted in vertical position and having a nozzle portion at its top adapted to be attached to a toilet bowl, said housing including an upper shell-like section having an open bottom, a lower shell-like section having an open top and a closed bottom, spaced upstanding members around the top edge of said lower section adapted for connection to the lower edge of said upper section and providing a plurality of intermediate lateral openings, means for securing said shell sections and upstanding members together, a screen covering said openings and interlockingly engaged with the upper and lower sections, an air purifying means, an electric motor and an intermediate suction means carried by said lower section with said air purifying means located in said upper section and said sucaoonws tion means located to discharge purified air through said openings intermediate said air purifying means and said motor.

15. In structure of the class described. a housing which includes an upper section having a main chamber and a trap chamber connecting with said main chamber through a narrow passageway, conduit means connecting said trap chamber with the toilet bowl, said housing also including a lower section, air purifying means located in said main chamber in the direct path of air flowing through said narrow passageway, suction means in said lower section, means adjacent said suction means for discharging air, and means for operating said suction means.

16. In a deodorizing attachment for toilet bowls including a seat, a housing having a nozzle formed integrally therewith and projecting laterally from the top thereof, suction means and ozonizing means within said housing, a plunger reciprocably mounted within said housing and projecting from the top thereof, a switch controlling operation of said ozonizing and suction means, and an arm on said plunger adapted to be engaged by the seat for depressing said plunged to actuate said switch.

17. In a deodorizing attachment for toilet bowls, including a housing having a nozzle formed integrally therewith and projecting laterally from the top thereof, a depression formed in the top of said nozzle, suction means and ozonizing means within said housing, a plunger mounted within said housing and projecting outwardly therefrom, the top of said plunger being confined within said depression and adapted to be actuated by the movement of the toilet seat, and a switch actuated by depression of said plunger to set said ozonizing and suction means in op-' eration.

MACY O. TEETOR. 

